SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA -- The following is a statement from Dr. Paul Song, Executive Chairman of CourageCampaign.org, on the publication of a racist, political attack against San Diego Mayoral candidate, David Alvarez.

“We are deeply disturbed by the Lincoln Club’s recent mailer attacking David Alvarez. The mailer portrays Candidate Alvarez -- a well-respected member of the community who would become the first Latino mayor of the city -- with a fist full of cash using a hand gesture commonly associated with gangs.

“This employment of racist stereotypes has no acceptable place in our society, but is particularly galling in a community as diverse as San Diego. This ad perpetuates the insulting, inaccurate notion that all Latinos are gang members, as opposed to educated, accomplished and hardworking members of our society. In addition, Alvarez has never been involved or associated with gangs in his life.

“This type of cowardly and unethical messaging is referred to as “dog-whistle racism” -- planting coded images and themes of common racial stereotypes to conjure up fear of minorities -- and it has no place in California politics.”